So, you’ve got a licence, a set of car keys, and you know the basics? Congratulations, you can operate an automobile.  How do you become a Driver? Read on…

1. Concentrate

I can’t stress this enough: When you’re behind the wheel of a car, make driving your top priority. You have the privilege to be operating a fairly large piece of machinery that makes your life a whole lot easier. Treat that privilege with the respect and responsibility it deserves. Doing your makeup, finding that song on your iPod, talking on the phone, sending a text message, reading a map or conversing with passengers are some of the best ways to cause an accident. Pull over if it’s that urgent

2. Increase your experience

Go out and have a drive for the sake of it. Drive in the rain, in the sun, at night, in the fog. Pick a nice destination a couple of hours away. Winding mountain and coastal roads are great for this. Avoid the freeways as much as possible; there’s limited experience to be had by driving in straight lines at constant speeds.

3. Drive a variety of cars

If you’re fortunate enough to own a variety of cars, then this one is easy. If, however, you’re like most people and consider yourself fortunate to own one car, then you may need to convince friends and family to loan you theirs. Drive large cars, small cars, front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, four wheel drive, powerful, not so powerful and even some automatics. If your licence allows and you have the opportunity, take a small truck (e.g. a 3 tonne moving van) out on the road. It’ll give you a new respect for truck drivers.

4. Know how your car works

You don’t need to be a mechanic, but it helps to know how your car does what it does. Is it front or rear wheel drive? Open axle or limited slip diff? Does it tend towards oversteer or understeer? If it has a turbo, do you know when the boost kicks in? You don’t want to discover any of these thing mid corner on a wet day.

5. Get training

Advanced driving courses are a great idea for any driver. Not to be confused with ‘defensive driving’ courses which are mostly useful for scaring novice drivers into being more careful rather than building skills.  Advanced driver training will most likely involve instructors with some degree of motorsport experience giving you guidance around a racetrack. Courses can cover everything from slide control to correct racing technique.

6. Join a car club

Making friends amongst responsible people who love driving their cars as much as you do is an excellent way to increase your knowledge and your skill level. One of the greatest attractions of membership is club sponsored track days: for a small fee club members are allowed spend a few hours throwing their cars around a race track. If you decide you want to try your hand at racing a car for real, becoming a club member is often the first prerequisite for gaining a racing licence in many countries.

7. Know the road rules

And follow them. Road rules exist so that everyone using the road knows what to expect of other users. If you do the unexpected often enough, you’re guaranteed to run into problems. At best you’ll get a fine. At worst, you’ll cause an accident.

8. Maintain your car

Make sure you have enough air in your tires. While you’re there, check the tread levels. Look under your bonnet once a week, make sure there are no leaks and top up any fluids that are low. Get your car serviced regularly by someone who knows what they’re doing. If your car feels unusual or is making strange noises, don’t ignore it. Talk to your mechanic.

9. Be aware of road conditions

Your car will behave very differently depending on the state of the roads it’s on. Every driver should know that things like rain, ice, gravel and oil can drastically affect grip. A good driver is also aware of many other factors, such as bumps in the tarmac, the camber of a corner and subtle changes in the road surface. Looking at a road will only tell you so much; you’re constantly getting feedback through the steering wheel and the way your car shifts. Learn how to interpret it, and adjust your driving style accordingly.

10. Be aware of other drivers.

You may be the best driver you know, but it’s not much help if you don’t notice the guy in front of you has no brake lights. Or the person who’s changing two lanes at a time with no indicator. And that driver on the side road ahead looks impatient. What will you do if they pull out in front of you? A healthy dose of vigilance should keep you and your passengers safe.

Have a driving tip you’d like to share? Leave a comment below…